Back from the long jog, during which I thought long and hard and also hard and long about the problems. And I think the easiest and quickest and most sane solution is to not discuss politics - no one is going to change anyone's mind, people are going to post things others don't want to hear, others are going to respond in kind, it's the nature of the beast. The Republicans and Democrats will both say they're taking the high road, as they always do, when, in fact, both parties are guilty of the same exact things - creating negativity around the opposition. Nothing new here. So, even though we might lose one or two interesting posts or a bit of interesting discourse that some might find interesting, I think that in this case the potential negatives outweigh the positives. The bottom line is, everyone will have their passions and people here and elsewhere will vote their consciences come November. I don't know one board anywhere where when political topics are discussed someone doesn't get hurt and leave in a huff, where the posts don't turn personal and rancorous even though the people were, prior to those posts, friendly, caring, and supportive. I just don't see the upside, frankly. So, feel free to discuss politics as nicely or as fiercely as you want, via PM and/or e-mail, and let's leave the board for the fun stuff, the support, the community, the family, and the interesting and informed posts.
Will anyone else leave because of THIS post - who knows? I should hope not, and I do hope Cilla, Singdaw, and whoever else has bolted, will return post haste because it will be a lesser place without them. None, by the way, have responded to my e-mails.